Sprocket



Patented Oct. 25, 1932 iwms w WAI bI Q i I S F 3 mm 1 :YQE L S I N R 1 ignventijon relates to motion pictnre 7 projection machines, and more particularly 9 to a self aligning sprocket thereforlj 1 1:

AlthOIlg the This application is a division of our; 100-.

pending application; Serial No. 815,381 filed October 27, 1928, for Self-Aligning Sprocket, whichdi'vision of ourj 'copending applicationj Serial No. 803,162ffiled August improvements'in projection ma '31, 1 928, for chines t o v An object of the invention i's'to provide -a sprocket capable offeeding a Wide film to ancl frorn afilmmagazine." a Anotherobj ect is to prevent tearing of the filrn due to minor variationsin thejlin of operation and: the manner of it s organization Frnay "be better understood by referring tothe following description taken in connection with theacconipanying drawingform inga part thereoffinwhichf l y *F' 1 is an elevation 1 of "a self-aligning sprocket and drivingshafttherettori e *1- Fig. 2is a sectional view thereof [Figu 4 is a section talrenon the 1a 4 4 of Fig. 2 showingthe snpporting means for the sprocket. V l 7 Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to simi lar parts as the art willpermit, V

Referring to" the drawing more in detail,

' shonlder '66;

Qrigiiiahappfication med 'oet pbisf 27 1 192 siieriio. 31 5 ,t3 1." bividedandlthis abfilication med sejte ber the" the -feed sprocket 10' which lsadaptedtofeed aWVide film having edge e perforationsboinprises a-rod which is clamped tofrarne 26 of? the machine by nreans'of-shoulder 27-andni1t 28. Rod 25 is providedyvith pair of bearings 29 and30 ongtvhiclr sleevegl is jo'liinalled; Sleeve 31 is held against" longitudinal movementby n11tT82 threaded on shaft "25 and bearing against aishoulder' insaid sleeveg A t'ubnlar iiiiember 351, fhjav'ing its 1 end roundedto form ball 36, iscarried on the end of sleeve 31 and sectired thereto by means or plng'37 yvhichisthreaded interiorlylof said sleeve Member 35' may be secured tosaid pl ig by pinBSKFigQ 4) which passes jthroiigh aligned: apertures in said members. "Sjorocket 10 issecnred to web by m ans of screwdl. Saidweb mem'ber is provided with a spherical surface forming a socket 42 which adapted to con 7 tact with ball 36 ofmerhbergi 'Web member 40 may be secured against rotational movement with'respecttoball 36 means of stndjothrjeadedinsaid ball and cooperati ingwith a keywvayG in lweb member 40.] t

fBall socket 4:2 are held in engaging relationshipby spring 47 "which is secured between Washer 4 8jcarjried Iby bolt 49 and fiangedf meinbel? 5ojonrnalled" on said bolt and adapted to bear against said web inember lO. Bolt 49 is securedin sleeve 31fby meme] oflnnt 51 which is threaded interiorly thereof slee e 31 asses thronghaperture so" in a bartitionffil forming a" part of the frame of y y the machine, and is providedat that point 1 "Fig.8 is afront elevation of the resilient, driving mechanism and l Me with threadsBQ which are designedito presaid sleeve toward they sprocket and to discharge'snch loi l into the gear; chamber formed betijveeii partition" 61' and frame 26. Shield vent oilfrom' creeping along thesurfa ce of y vent clirectp'assa'ge of oil around saidsleeve.

The driyingegrneans for sleeve 31' comprises a'gear' wheel GS hich islo'osely jonrnalled I means and is so positioned as to preq i Q l i i i v and pins 69 carried in said shoulder 66. Suitable slots are provided in gear wheel 65 adjacent pins 69 whereby a slight relative movement is permitted between said gear wheel and sleeve 31.

Oil hole 71 is adaptedto direct oil upon bearings 29 and 30. Any oil which passes said bearings cannot pass nut 51 and is accordingly returned past bearings 29 and 80 and discharged through oil hole 7 O.

The sprocket is capable of pivoting to a limited extent about the ball and socket connection above described, and is accordingly adapted to equalize the stress on the film which would be caused by a slight change in direction of feeding. The resilient connection between the driving gear and between sleeve 31 preventsthe film from being torn due to sudden changes in driving force or sudden variations in tension of the film itself. The oiling mechanism is so constructed that oil is prevented from coming in contact with the sprocket or the film carried thereby. Shield 63 revents oil from passing directly into the film chamber while threads 62 on sleeve 31 prevents creepage along said sleeve. Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, it is tobe understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited by the present specific description, but only in accordance with the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a sprocket wheel and a driving shaft therefor, one of said elements having a ball and the other of said elements having a hemispherical socket in driving engagement therewith whereby limited relative angular variation between said elements is permitted and resilient means carried by one of said elements for securing said ball and socket in driving engagement.

2. In combination with a rotating shaft, a tubular member secured thereto having a ball shaped end, a sprocket having a web'formed interiorly thereof, said web having a hemispherical surface, resilient means for maintaining said ball shaped end and said hemispherical surface in contact, and means ineluding a pin and slot connection for trans- ,mlttlng a driving force therebetween.

3. A sprocket mounting comprising a rotating shaft having a ball shaped end, a hollow sprocket having a Web formed interiorly thereof, said web having a socket engaging said ball shaped end, a rod extending from said shaftaxially of said sprocket, and a spring seated on said rod and engaging said web for holding said spherical surface in engagement with said ball shaped end.

4. A sprocket mounting comprising a driving shaft having a ball shaped end, a sprocket having a web formed interiorly thereof and engaging said end to form a ball and socket joint, a shaft mounted co-axially with said driving shaft and carrying a spring, said spring engaging said web and holding said web in engagement with said end, a longitudinal slot formed in said web, and a key mounted in said end and engaging said slot to provide a driving connection and means for varying the tension of said spring for con trolling the flexibility of said sprocket.

5. A sprocket support comprising a hollow driving shaft, a tubular member secured thereto and having a ball shaped end, a hollow sprocket having a web formed interiorly thereof and engaging said end to provide a ball and socket joint, a rod extending through said end and carrying a spring, said spring bearing against said web and holding said ball and socket joint in operative position, a key driving connection between said end and said Web, and a member threaded interiorly of said shaft and engaging said rod for locking the same in position.

6. A sprocket mounting comprising a hollow driving shaft, a member secured to the end of said shaft and carrying a ball shaped end, a hollow sprocket having a web formed interiorly thereof, said Web having a socket engaging said ball shaped end, a rod extending from said member axially of said sprocket, and a spring seated on said rod and engaging said web for holding said spherical surface in engagement with said ball shaped end.

7. A sprocket support comprising a hollow driving shaft, a tubular member secured thereto and having a ball shaped end, a hollow sprocket having a web formed interiorly thereof, and engaging said end to provide a ball and socket joint, a plug in said tubular member, a rod threaded into said plug and extending through said end and carrying a spring, said spring bearing against said Web and holding said ball and socket joint in operative position, a key driving connection between said end and said web, and a member threaded interiorly of said shaft and engaging said threaded rod for locking the same in position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ourhands.

LOUIS SIMON FRAPPIER. EWALD BOECKING. 

